As the largest city in Bay of Plenty, Tauranga is a place you must visit. It’s just a 15 minute drive from Mount Maunganui, the most popular beach town in New Zealand. Tauranga is one of the main centres for international trade, fashion, culture, business and horticultural science. It is also home to the Port of Tauranga which is New Zealand’s largest port in terms of efficiency and tonnage.

Five things to do in Tauranga NZ

1. Take a scenic walk at Downtown Tauranga

Downtown Tauranga is home to several historically significant areas such as the Strand waterfront which is always buzzing with activities and houses some of the best restaurants, pubs, café, nightclubs and accommodation options which you can enjoy during a scenic walk. It also houses the water’s edge, with children playing at the local playground. Your sight will run wild as you watch them clamber over the Hairy Maclary bronze sculptures – a storybook scene from Dame Lynley in her children books.

2. Go for a Dolphin tour

Tauranga’s harbour is always available at every corner of the city. It provides the town with an attractive waterfront setting where you can fish, sail, dive and enjoy a dolphin tour. These Tauranga day tours are easy to arrange and available at the town’s beauty spots such as the McLaren Falls or Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park.

3. Visit the Tauranga Art Gallery

Tauranga Art Gallery is one of the newest and most respected public galleries in New Zealand. Since it was opened in 2007, it has delivered high-quality exhibitions within its fashionable gallery space and is located right in the heart of the city’s CBD. Visiting the mezzanine galleries only takes an hour and will leave you overwhelmed by the beauty of the art displayed.

4. Katikati Bird Gardens

The KatiKati Bird Gardens are beautiful established gardens that are on the edge of the Tauranga Harbour. You get to view exotic native birds with the inclusion of the NZ Kea on this place. You can also get a golf cart tour around the place as you enjoy the view of the birds.

5. Scenic flight

The beautiful scenic flights are ideal the passengers who like to get a view of the surrounding landscape and allow them to get the proper bearings before heading down. A scenic flight will allow you to view the beauty and adventure that the city has to offer. With the beautiful harbor, blue ocean, mountains, volcanoes and lakes, there’s so much to see, Tauranga tours is the most ideal way to get the overview of the magical city without missing on any of its activities.

If you are visiting the Port for the first time, we at Custom Day Tours provide Tauranga day tours to ensure that your visit in unforgettable. We will take you around the beautiful Port Tauranga, the world famous Waitomo Caves, Rotorua, around Bay of Plenty and Hobbiton. We will create an ideal schedule to make sure that you visit the best places and make the best of your cruise ship excursions Tauranga. Find us at www.customdaytours.co.nz.

New Zealand is unique in many ways and astoundingly beautiful which makes it a popular holiday destination for overseas visitors. Two of the most popular visitor experiences include exploring the wonderful world of the Lord of The Rings and the ancient culture of the Maori people. Most cruise ship visitors land in the Port of Tauranga City which is an excellent gateway to Hobbiton and Rotorua. You can visit both these places on specialist day tour from Tauranga and here is just a taste of what you’ll find in both locations.

Hobbiton

A visit to Hobbiton will be like going home for lovers of the Shire and “Lord of the Rings.” Don’t miss this opportunity to visit Hobbiton, the real village of the Hobbits and a totally unique place that can be found nowhere else. Since 1999, when they began construction of the movie set, it has been used to film many scenes in the “Lord of the Rings” and “Hobbits” movies. It is now a permanent attraction for all Hobbit fans.

Enter the home of Bilbo Baggins and see where the quest began. Outside the 37 purpose built hobbit holes are everyday items that bring the village to life, such as butterfly catchers, cabbage gardens, and hobbit laundry hanging to dry. Explore the Shire’s local pub, the gardens, bridges and other locations from the world-famous movies.

The Maori

The ancient Polynesians made incredible journeys in their seagoing canoes to far-distant shores. It’s not known exactly when they reached New Zealand, but it was about 1,000 years ago. Maori legends tell of the arrival of The Great Fleet in 1350 with the first large group of Polynesian settlers.

Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the Maori had no metal. Their primary working materials were the bones of whales and birds and local stone including Greenstone. Visit the wondrous Rotorua Forest and an authentic Tamaki Maori village. After experiencing their unique customs and crafts, finish the adventure with a three-course Hangi-cooked feast and the famous Haka dance of the Maori warriors.

New Zealand is known for its fantastic tourist destinations and if you are planning to explore the island-nation, a visit to Tauranga is a must. The stunning coastal city in the North Island offers so much fun activities that you need to make a plan before starting. Here we will guide you on a tour of Tauranga.

About Tauranga: Tauranga is situated at the head of a big harbour which extends along the Bay of Plenty and guarded by Matakana Island. Tauranga is a Maori name meaning a ‘safe anchorage‘. The town of Mount Maunganui is located at the harbour’s entrance and five kilometres to the north of Tauranga. Tauranga’s warm and dry climate make it a great place for a vacation. Tauranga is mostly surrounded by horticulture land and is particularly known for production of tangelo, a grapefruit, and kiwifruit.

Best time to visit: Tauranga can be visited for most time of the year. It mostly depends on you to set up your date with this beautiful place. The summer and spring are mild here while the winter offers an opportunity for sightseeing in the pleasant warmth of the sun. No matter which season it is, the enthusiasm to explore Tauranga will hardly fall short of the mark.

How to reach: Tauranga can be reached via air, road and water. It has a domestic airport and is connected directly by Air New Zealand flights from cities like Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch. If one chooses the roadway from Auckland, he/she will have to take the route via Ngatea, Paeroa and Waihi (total distance is just over 200 km). Besides, there are frequent bus services from various parts of New Zealand. One can also opt for a boat ride to the Port of Tauranga. The port is located in Mount Maunganui. It takes only five minutes to reach Mount Maunganui from Salisbury Wharf cruise ship dock.

What to see: Tauranga is home to not just picturesque locations like pristine white beaches and other natural beauties like geysers, mountain and volcano. It is also known for its historical, cultural, art and craft and culinary delicacies and wine. The major attractions here include: Tauranga Art Gallery, White Island active volcano, Mauao mountain, Te Puna Querry Park, Mount Maunganui, Waitomo Caves, Kiwi 360, Kaimai ranges, McLaren Falls Park, Kaiate Falls Tauranga and the city itself and many more.

Where to eat: Eating out is a major attraction in Tauranga. There are several restaurants to explore, particularly on ‘The Strand’—known as the restaurant central of the city. Besides, there are Amphora and Shiraz and cafes like Providores and Slow Fish.

Where to stay: Tauranga offers accommodation of all sorts. The Sebel Trinity Wharf Tauranga is a luxury hotel while there are others in the budget range like Just The Ducks Nuts Backpackers and Hotel On Devonport.

For those who are planning to make a memorable trip to Tauranga, please visit www.customdaytours.co.nz for all necessary details on how to lay out a plan. We provide Tauranga day tours and cruise tours Tauranga besides local guided and private tours from Auckland. Our Tauranga cruise ship tours include day tours to Rotorua, Waitomo day tour, Hobbiton day tours and extra excursions. We also offer attractive package for those who stay in Auckland and want to witness the beauty of Tauranga.